College & Career Preparation

College & Career Preparation A Roadmap to Successful College & Career Planning for High School Juniors and Seniors

The choices you make today will determine your life tomorrow.

Why College? Every bit of education you get after high school increases your chances of earning a good salary. College graduates tend to earn more money than people who stop their education at the high school level. KnowHow2Go.org

Did You Know…? College graduates generally earn over $1 million more than high school graduates over a lifetime. 2012 Median U.S. Earnings by Educational Attainment(for workers age 25 and older) http://www.aie.org/planning-for-college/First-steps/learn-more-youll-earn-more.cfm

The Beginning: Your Academic Record Admission offices look for: • Level of difficulty of current classes with a pattern of increasing difficulty through senior year • Grades that are consistently high or that trend upward in the midst of increasingly challenging classes Academic ability is one of the primary criteria for admission

Navigating the Courses • Honors: usually more rigorous than regular academic classes but a step below Advanced Placement (AP) classes • Advanced Placement: the most widely available program; offers college-level courses which culminate in a rigorous subject exam • Dual Credit: concurrent enrollment at a local community college allowing students to earn both high school and college credit

Understanding the Credits for AP Courses • AP classes—colleges may award 3-6 hours of credit in respective course work depending on the student’s score on the AP exam • Some may not offer credit but will place the student in a higher-level class than most entering freshmen • Students should become familiar with the AP policies at schools in which they are interested

Advanced Placement Classes • Classes present high expectations for critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evidence, multiple perspectives, and clear written and verbal communications. • Students learn rigorous college-level content and skills. • AP exams are given in May and will be a culmination of all that has been covered during the school year. • Cost of the exam is $89 with fee-waivers available for qualified students. • You do not have to pass the test to receive weighted high school credit for the course. • Statistical research shows that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically earn higher grade point averages in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP peers.

Understanding the Credits for Dual Courses • Dual Credit Classes—a few schools do not award credit if the student received high school credit for the class • Some award credit as an elective but require the student to take their version of the class • Example: College Algebra may sometimes transfer as a math elective credit because some colleges question the rigorousness of the class • Students should check with their colleges to see how dual-credit classes are credited. Even if the school does not award credit, the fact that the student took a college level class will play into the admittance decision.

Dual Credit College Classes • Taken through TVCC • Must make C or higher for credit; B or higher for Distinguished Achievement credit • These are college classes taught on campus or online and must be treated as such. Students are expected to meet higher standards in order to make college-level grades. • If you need to drop a course, please see Mrs. Dorman for instructions. It is your responsibility to notify TVCC that you are dropping or withdrawing from a class. • Refunds are at the discretion of TVCC but are not available after the 20th class day. • Dual Credit grades become a part of your high school AND college transcripts.

Making the Grades • A student’s grades predict the probability of academic success at the college level—as well as study habits, perseverance, motivation, time management skills, and resilience. • Studies show that high school grades are the single best predictor of success at most colleges. • Schools look for an upward trend with increasing rigor—as classes become more difficult, a student becomes academically stronger.

You Should Know… • Colleges look at GPAs in context with the curriculum and the grading standards of a student’s high school. • Colleges do not take rank at face value—they consider the high school’s grading standards and GPA calculation formulas to gauge where a student stands. • Many colleges do not consider the GPA as the most reliable standard upon which to measure a student. • Instead, they rely on standardized test scores such as the SAT, the ACT, and AP exams to balance out any possible grade inflation.

Extra Extracurricular Activity • There is no ideal mixture of activities. • Students should pursue activities that truly interest them. • Colleges see extracurricular activities as strong predictors of how a student will contribute to the academic and social environment of the college. • While there is no one thing a student must be doing during the high school years, it will be regarded negatively if a student has done absolutely nothing with his time outside of the classroom.

Building a Resume • Begin keeping a record of your extracurricular activities and honors you may receive. • Be honest…don’t pad your resume with numbers that don’t add up and activities that you didn’t participate in. • Don’t assume a leadership position just because it looks good on your college application . . . do your part to follow through on your commitment. • Exaggerating, embellishing, or outright lying will have serious consequences. • Be honest and be yourself. Do what you enjoy and follow your passions.

Testing • Plan to take the standardized tests required by your choice of colleges. Then prepare for them.

Choosing a College • Research: • First, yourself—learn what your preferences, priorities, interests, and hopes are • Take interest inventories, personality quizzes, surveys • Discover what career and major best suites you • Second, the schools—location, setting, size, academic programs, cost, athletics, extracurricular activities, public or private, diversity, campus culture, and so on… • Study college websites, use College Board, read guidebooks, attend college fairs/college days, talk to alumni or current students

Financial Aid: A Brief Overview* • Forms of Financial Aid • Need-based • Grants—Federal, State, College-Funded • Self-help—Loans, Work-study • Merit-based • Scholarships—athletic, academic, fine arts • Local, State, College-funded, Private Organizations * A more detailed financial aid presentation will be held at a later date.

Applying for Aid: Overview • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Must be filled out each year after January 1st, using previous year’s tax return • CSS/PROFILE (College Scholarship Service) • A supplemental form from College Board used by many colleges in making financial aid decisions • College-specific financial aid applications • Required by some colleges to determine financial need

Timelines 11th Grade • Plan to spend time each night studying so that you won’t feel overwhelmed by due dates • Continue giving your best effort in all classes • Take the PSAT (even if you took it last year) • Continue extracurricular activities. Consider taking on a leadership role. • Do a test-run visit to a local college • Continue online research on colleges • Create a College Board account to keep track of college research • Attend a college day or college fair • Take the SAT or ACT during the winter or spring

Timelines 11th Grade continued • Create a preliminary list of possible colleges • Compile a list of college deadlines for applications, scholarships, etc. • Begin researching financial aid • Save samples of your best work for your academic and extracurricular file • Begin planning college visits for spring break or summer • Plan your 12th grade course schedule • If you plan to study one of the fine arts in college, complete any audition materials, portfolios, theater pieces, etc. • Register with the NCAA if you plan to continue athletics in college • During the summer, begin working on your Common Application and your essays

Timelines 12th Grade—Fall • Finalize your list of schools and begin applications (if you haven’t already) • Keep track of deadlines, required essays, and financial aid requirements • Visit colleges (you get two college days) • Ask for recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, principals. Allow plenty of time for completion. • Request transcripts to be sent to your choice colleges • Take ACT or SAT again, if needed. Send scores to colleges. • Keep copies of all applications, records, test scores, essays

Timelines 12th Grade—Winter • Apply for FAFSA PIN number in December • Submit applications, supplements, and fees for colleges • Fill out and submit FAFSA, CSS/PROFILE, and any other required financial aid forms • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) when it arrives • Confirm that all applications, essays, scores, and financial aid materials have been received • Continue to search for and complete scholarship applications • Confirm that semester transcripts have been mailed, if needed

Timelines 12th Grade—Spring • Celebrate your acceptance letter and inform your counselor of all acceptance offers and scholarship awards • Apply for local scholarships—usually in early March • Visit any college where you may enroll. Stay overnight if you can. • Apply for summer jobs • Fill out housing applications and send in fees • By May 1st, notify your school of choice that you will attend • Accept any student aid or scholarship awards for your college • Request final transcripts to be sent to college

Timelines 12th Grade—Summer • Follow-up on any remaining financial aid details • Watch for summer mailings or emails from your college about housing, orientation, course selection, and other subjects • Make your first payment on time! • Complete any summer reading assigned by the college • Pack for college • Reassure parents that you will write, call, and visit…especially when in need of money. 

Final Thoughts • Your counseling department is here to help you. Use them. Be patient…there are many students needing the same services you do. • Ask questions anytime throughout the process. • Schedule appointments for in-depth college-planning assistance. • Stay far, far away from that ugly SENIORITIS MONSTER! • Maintain your grades, stay focused, and enjoy your high school years. • Parents—please supply an updated email so that you may receive information regarding college and career readiness on a timely basis.

Resources • Mamlet, R. and C. VanDeVelde. College Admission: From Application to Acceptance. Step by Step. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2011. • www.knowhow2go.org • www.collegeboard.org • www.commonapp.org • www.fafsa.ed.gov • www.nasfaa.org • www.nacacnet.org • www.applytexas.org • www.collegefortexans.com • www.ed.gov • www.fastweb.com • www.finaid.org • www.mappingyourfuture.org • www.eligibilitycenter.org

College & Career Preparation